Boston Red Sox: Top 10 nicknames for Players’ Weekend
Not only do the Boston Red Sox have the best record in baseball, but they also have some of the best nicknames that will be on display for Players’ Weekend.
MLB is always trying to bring new fans from the younger generations, so they tend to make attempts at being trendy and “hip”. Their favorite event to accomplish this is Players’ Weekend, where players get to wear jerseys with nicknames on the back rather than their actual last names.
This is a fun and nontraditional event in the typically traditional game of baseball, and it is set to take place for the second consecutive year starting on August 24 through August 26. The Boston Red Sox will be in Tampa Bay to take on the Rays that weekend.
As you would expect, Boston’s boys are taking part in the event ace again this year, but I have to say not all the nicknames are as impressive as I would have imagined. For example, Mookie’s nickname is, well, “Mookie”.
Betts is arguably the best player in baseball so he could have had a better nickname. I mean, his initials are MLB. Why not be called “Mr. MLB” for a weekend instead of Mookie? Sadly, Betts isn’t the only one with a painfully obvious nickname on the back of his jersey for Players’ Weekend.
We have Jackie Bradley Jr. going by “JBJ”, Dustin Pedroia going by “Pedey”, Xander Bogaerts will be “Bogie”, and Andrew Benintendi will be “Benny”. Yes, sure, those are actually their nicknames, but as a fan, I would’ve liked to see some more creativity in one of the few times they get to express themselves.
Now, don’t get me wrong, those are still good nicknames, but the top 10 nicknames on this team just put the rest to shame. So, let’s get started on that list.
10. Steven Wright – “Knucksie”
It’s only logical that the only knuckleball pitcher on the team, and one of the few in the league, gets “Knucksie” on the back of his jersey. Wright has been impressive this year, and while we won’t get to see him on the field of Players’ Weekend, hopefully Knucksie will be back in time for the postseason.
9. J.D. Martinez – “Flaco”
This one is a bit disappointing. I was hoping he would play off of the letters “JD” for his nickname. Seeing as he is the league leader in home runs, I think “Just Dingers” would have been far more fitting, but “Flaco” works, too. Flaco, in Spanish, means “skinny”, so I guess J.D. is just using this nickname to drive him to get bigger and better each day, and it’s definitely working.
8. Craig Kimbrel – “Dirty Craig”
Release the Kimbrel! “Dirty Craig” gets his nickname from the absolute filth he dishes in the late innings of close games. At least, that’s what he’d want you to believe. It may or may not be because of his appearance and dirty hat, but I hope for Kimbrel’s sake that it is the former reason.
7. Mitch Moreland – “2 – Bags”
Usually players don’t keep their last name on their jersey for Players’ Weekend, but Mitch is an exception. Mitchy “2 – Bags” is no longer a nickname becuase it is his whole entity. Moreland has been a doubling machine since joining the Red Sox, and he is only getting better with time. Soon, we may just be looking at Mitchy “2+2 – Bags”.
6. David Price – “Slim Dunkin”
Okay, I have to say this one threw me for a loop. When I first saw the nickname, I didn’t really understand it until I realized that David Price looks exactly like a skinny version of Tim Duncan. Also, the fact that it is spelled “Dunkin” and not “Duncan” is a perfect tribute to Boston and our love for Dunkin Donuts.
5. Chris Sale – “The Conductor”
At first glance, I wasn’t buying this nickname at all because I’ve never heard anyone call Chris Sale “The Conductor” before. Then, I saw that Pedroia said that Sale is “The Conductor” because a conductor punches tickets, and Sale punches out just about every opposing hitter, so now I’m all in on “The Conductor”.
The way Chris Sale has been pitching all season, he needed something better than “Stickman” on the back of his jersey. As “The Conductor”, Sale is at the head of this Red Sox train, and he is bringing them straight to the top.
More from Red Sox News
- Is Red Sox’ Eric Hosmer DFA a potential lifeline for Bobby Dalbec?
- Red Sox news: Orioles eyeing former Boston arms, Dansby Swanson to Cubs, JD Martinez to Dodgers
- 3 players the Red Sox could’ve DFA’ed instead of Jeter Downs and Eric Hosmer
- Eric Hosmer DFA is latest questionable Red Sox roster decision
- Scott Boras rubs Xander Bogaerts failure in Red Sox faces at Masataka Yoshida introduction
4. Brian Johnson – “BJ”
Need I say more?
3. Brock Holt – “Brockstar”
This is an old one but an oh so good one. Brock Holt is a utility player who can play just about every single position including great teammate. He is the glue that keeps this team together. His positive energy in the clubhouse keeps everyone loose, which is why everyone loves the “Brockstar”. Hopefully, he can keep on rocking all the way through October.
2. Rafael Devers – “Carita”
In Spanish, “Carita” means babyface. Devers actually got this nickname as a kid because of how he was always happy and smiling. This still rings true for Devers on this current Red Sox team, as he is still a bright-eyed, happy 21-year old kid, and he still has that “Carita” about him.
It makes me wonder if Devers will ever be looked at as anything other than a little kid enjoying the game of baseball. I sure hope not because there really isn’t anything more pure and genuine than his emotion.
1. Joe Kelly – “Jimmy B”
To the untrained eye, No. 56 coming out of the Red Sox bullpen may look a lot like Joe Kelly, but it is actually a reporter from JWK, Punta Gorda known as Jim Buchanan. Alright, truth be told, they are the same person.
For those of you that may be a bit confused as to why Joe Kelly is living a double life, let’s take it back to the 2018 preseason. During spring training, Kelly went undercover as Jim Buchanan to troll fellow Red Sox players and staff during practice, and it made for some hilarious content.
Kelly really went all in with this gimmick. He had a makeup team to make him this pasty old reporter that was unrecognizable to his own teammates. He was actually getting on just about everyone’s nerves until they realized Kelly was just messing with them.
Kelly’s commitment to the character made his segments some must see material. Some of the best moments were when he just savagely roasted teammates like Brock Holt, J.D. Martinez, and Chris Sale, but my personal favorite has to be when Jimmy B referred to David Ortiz as “Big Poopy”.
Jim Buchanan, or “Jimmy B” is a living legend in all of Boston and Punta Gorda. It is about time Joe Kelly acknowledges his alter ego with this nickname.
dark. Next. Mookie Betts hits for the cycle
So, there you have it! The best of the best when it comes to nicknames belongs to the Red Sox. The Sox are winning virtually all of their games, and now they are going to win Players’ Weekend, too. It really is just unfair to the rest of the league!